Denmark's Queen Margrethe announced that she would end her 52-year-long reign.
The Washington Post called Lorde a bigot in a full-page ad after she canceled her show in Israel.
NASA successfully put two satellites designed to study the Moon's interior structure into the Moon's orbit.
A blue moon and a lunar eclipse occurred on the same day.
Boris Yeltsin resigned as the President of Russia, which left Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as acting President.
Blizzard Entertainment released the first Diablo game.
Barbra Streisand performed her first live public concert in 20 years.
The Fog Bowl, a heavy, dense fog rolled over Soldier Field in Chicago during the second quarter of the Bears vs. Eagles NFC Divisional Playoff Game.
Ted Bundy escaped from jail.
Paul McCartney filed a lawsuit to break up The Beatles.
Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Caesar's Palace Fountain.
US President Harry Truman officially proclaimed the end of World War II.
The New Year's Eve Ball was lowered in New York Times Square for the very first time.
American inventor Ogden Bolton Jr. patented the first electric-powered bicycle.
Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the new capital of Canada.
The British East India Trading Company was given a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I.
Roman Emperor Commodus survived an assassination attempt.
